The Economic Policy of the Russian Empire in Karabakh (1830–1860)

This article examines significant military and political events that took place in the South Caucasus in the early nineteenth century. These events were of crucial importance for the peoples living in this territory and for the Russian Empire. Karabakh, which became the site of the Russo-Persian wars, suffered greatly, and its economy deteriorated considerably. However, its annexation to the Russian Empire and the elimination of internal political fragmentation played a major role in the development of the country’s economy. Using a combination of historical and comparative methods, the authors analyze the economic policy of the tsarist government in Karabakh in the 1830s–1860s and its results in agriculture, crafts and trade. The authors rely on a wide range of sources, including documents published by the Caucasian Archaeographic Commission, valuable materials from Caucasian Yearbook published by the administration of the Transcaucasian Region, documents of the Caucasian Agricultural Society, etc. The primary focus is on the Karabakh region. This text describes the roles and functions of the tsarist authorities in the development of this region. It is demonstrated that the region’s economy was on the path to sustainable development, a path that was encouraged by the tsarist government. This was evident both in the main branches of agriculture and in the crafts, which played a significant role in the economic life of the province. It is clear that during the first half of the nineteenth century, craft and domestic production in Karabakh underwent a transition, becoming the foundation for the emergence of the initial forms of specialized industrial activity. Despite negative factors, including the lack of a unified monetary system and a system of weights and measures, trade in Karabakh also developed, albeit with certain peculiarities. It is noteworthy that already during this period, the role of Shushi was strongly emphasized not only in terms of crafts, but also, and above all, in terms of foreign trade. According to archival materials, Shushi was one of the centers for the formation of commercial capital in Transcaucasia. According to research, despite several problems, the region’s economy achieved certain progress and was involved in the all-Russian market.